Seems like people are beginning to see the REAL value in ShoreTel.

Last week there were two announcements; one touting the rise in their prized product Personal Call Manager. In the SMB segment, ShoreTel beat the next closest competitor, Cisco, by almost 35 percent in sales of its popular ShoreWare® Call Manager application suite!

The report by Synergy Research Group is the first in the industry to effectively quantify the number of desktop applications shipped by leading vendors from 2006 to 2008.Documented proof of what I know, ShoreTel Rocks!!

This tied in with the second bit of Good News from last week. ShoreTel showcased the latest release of its award-winning UC software in Booth 909 at VoiceCon Orlando 2009. VoiceCon (is produced by TechWeb) is a the largest and most attended (even in the current market it has overflowing crowds) Communication show today. It is so big that it is broken up between the East and West coasts.

At VoiceCon last week it was announced to attendees at the event voted ShoreTel with the 2009 Best in VoiceCon Award for the third year in a row. Best in VoiceCon recognizes new and exceptional enterprise communications solutions and is presented annually at VoiceCon Orlando. ShoreTel received award for its ShoreTel Release 9 Unified Communications System.

The annual Best in VoiceCon Award recognizes new and exceptional enterprise communications solutions, and is an opportunity for the VoiceCon audience to express their opinion on the latest products and solutions that offer true business value. This was particularly gratifying for the ShoreTel team as we  all strive to understand our customers’ needs and align our offerings accordingly—and as the major competitors looked on with envy.

Pretty cool.

 

Network World has posted an article about the ShoreTel 8 release that was reported here back in April. The article gives an overview of the new ShoreGear switches and Personal Call Manager software. You can find some of it below and the remainder here.

Credit: NetworkWorld.com

ShoreTel earlier this week announced several software and hardware upgrades and two new voice switches. Included in the announcement are enhancements to the ShoreWare Call Manager product line, more open interfaces for integration, and adds two new voice switches: the ShoreGear 24A and the ShoreGear 30.

The ShoreWare Personal Call Manager has been upgraded to provide more intuitive interfaces. Added features include an integrated client user interface with a main display for calling features and tabs for messages and history; simplified access to features designed to be easier to use and find; quick and easy dialing with exchange and phone directory along with just in time telephony presence; and a simplified, single-level user interface with personal and advanced merged options.

The ShoreWare Professional Call Manager has added improvements to its basic voice communications and it now provides automatic and on-demand video communications. The Instant Messaging interface upgrades include easy sidebar conversations; on the phone communications; and interfaces for a third party presence server. The unified communications suite has added improved call control, video calling and IM access and a rich presence integration; the suite now also supports a softphone

ShoreTel 8 was released under "controlled release" terms on March 31. The newest version of ShoreTel's software features an overhaul for the Personal Call Manager software as well as built in video capabilities, internal chat, and presence server integration.